Such a cute romance by an author new to me and I hope to read more by her! I enjoyed this story of a couple who decide to take a dating break and find out what else is out there before returning to each other. You have to read it yourself to see what ends up happening to Ingrid and her boyfriend. I highly recommend this read!

This is listed as a slow burn but for me is was so slow it never caught on fire. Descent premise but the writing was clunky in the beginning confusing, and just never caught for me. I found the characters to have very little impact and not very endearing and the plot fizzled very quickly.

There was a lot I enjoyed about this one: so much about libraries and bookstores, and a slow burn. But the main character felt hard for me to love, as we're introduced to her making what felt like an obviously stupid choice to date around before coming back to her boyfriend to get engaged. It took a while for me to warm to her, and I'll be honest that she never fully redeemed herself for me. I loved Macon and thought he might be too good for her. But there's something to be said for a book that kept my interest the whole time. 3.75/5

I am so glad I pushed through the beginning of this book. I was very close to not finishing it. It made me cringe, roll my eyes, and I wanted to shake Ingrid! The last half of the book was perfection and I loved it! Very grateful for the chance to read it!

Overdue by Stephanie Perkins is an engaging, adorable novel which will keep you guessing to the very end. When after a long relationship, Ingrid and Cory decide to take a one month break to see how they feel, since after 11 years they hadn't gotten engaged. One month leads to two and the break continues, but for Ingrid there's a new twist...her coworker Mason, whose grumpiness is just an act, hiding the fact that he's been interested in her for ages. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

4.25⭐️ Happy National Library Week. This was really such a lovely, cozy novel. To me it read much more like contemporary than romance, in part because of the overriding themes of self-discovery and maturation, but also because of the atmosphere. So many romances build a bright, beautiful, technicolor world in which to place their characters. I cannot overstate how much I appreciated Perkins’s honest portrayal. These were *real* people who had *real* jobs, with appropriately modest living accommodations, and *real* daily struggles. It’s refreshing to experience friendship, hope, and love in this context (especially now)! The slow burn was slooooooow, but soft and sweet throughout. This was a sincere and heartfelt story that tugged all the right heart strings and gave me all the feels. Also, you can literally never go wrong reading a book about books. ;) Strongly recommend.

This is the prefect cozy slow burn romance . I hoped on when it was offered by NetGalley as a free download. The main character, Ingrid, has to figure out who she is and what she wants when her longtime sort-of-boyfriend suggests a break. Throw in that she's librarian turned bookseller and a few side trips, and you have a wonderful romance where she realizes maybe she didn't need something extra after all.

Thanks for the advance copy!

My Thoughts

When you’re not looking because your life is working for you fate steps in and shows that what you thought you wanted really isn’t it at all.

Now you have to figure out what you really do want and more importantly how to get it for yourself.

11 years is a long time to invest in a relationship but when it does not go anywhere beyond being good friends with benefits letting go makes sense, no matter how much both people wish otherwise.

Cory and Ingrid taking a break is of course reminiscent of Rachel and Ross doing so on Friends.

Unlike their TV counterparts our characters agree from the start that having experiences with others while they are apart is their main goal.

Funny thing is once the month is up and Cory compares notes with Ingrid both agree they need more time apart.

In the interim the only real connection Ingrid finds worth taking deeper is the one she and co-worker/friend Macon share.

What really stands out in the way the story unfolds is how both Ingrid and Macon find themselves giving and taking chances with changing both their personal and professional choices.

The pair also slowly grow closer than just being work friends and as they do both allow the other to see the vulnerabilities that no one else is privy too.

Like turns into caring for each other in so many small ways and caring turns into love which is unexpressed but shines through for all to see but Ingrid and Macon.

A nicely played out slow burn romance.
[EArc from Netgalley]
On every book read as soon as it is done and written up for review it is posted on Goodreads and Netgalley, once released then posted on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles as well.

A romance starring a librarian turned bookseller? A love interest who's a hot curmudgeon with a fairytale garden and a shy heart? A cozy setting? Terrific friends for our main character? A lovely arc of growth for our main character, too? Sign me up, please! I devoured Overdue in 2 days - such a fun, hopeful read!

Ingrid Dahl and her boyfriend have been in a mostly-platonic-less-romantic relationship for the past eleven years and they've decided to take a month longbreak to see new people then get back together to marry (icky).

But Ingrid has the perfect man in mind... her longtime co-worker and best friend Macon. Now she's started to see her life anew and she doesn’t wanna get back together with her ex again and realises all she has ever wanted might have been right in front of her.

I got an email from NetGalley about this book, with a link to download it for 1,000 people. I jumped on it and am so glad I did; this was a thoroughly enjoyable read about librarian Ingrid who is forced to reckon with who and what she really wants when her longtime boyfriend suggests they take a short break.

I feel like other authors would have ended it at certain instances, but we were not deprived of anything which made it all the more satisfying.

This also has major book lover vibes.

This was such an adorably cute read although it was pretty predictable. There were definitely some unexpected side quests, still trying to decide if they were relevant to the story. Either way, everything wrapped up nicely with lots of laughs added in.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately I could not continue with this book. This was my first time reading a book by this author and I quickly found out the writing and I didn't get–at all. Thanks to the publisher for my advanced copy!

Ah, I absolutely loved her previous books, which was why I really wanted to read this one. Ingrid and her long-term boyfriend, Cory, decided to take a month-long break from their relationship to see other people. She has had a long-time crush on her co-worker Macon. When she tried to kiss him went awry, she turned to online dating apps. The main story is about her self-discovery of who she was and what she truly wanted in her life. I have to be honest, the first few chapters were a bit slow and boring. I almost gave up. But I kept reading because I thought it could be exceptionally great like her previous books. This book leans more of a women's fiction than a romance.  Also, it’s obvious from the beginning that Ingrid and Cory wouldn’t end up together after a weird pause in their relationship. After 11 years together it should be obvious where it’s going. Which made it a little baffling that Ingrid kept referring to this as temporary.  I felt bad for some of the guys she was dating because she never really gave them a chance nor was honest with them. Ingrid’s love interest, Macon, was a hard character to connect with at first. He gave clues to his feelings along the way. I did enjoy the second half of the book. Her journey to happiness and romance was beautiful. And I enjoyed how she and Macon finally got together. The ending was pretty adorable. Overall, it was a nice surprise of a book. I just think it was a bit too long of a book. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.

I am a huge fan of traditional romance, but I have to admit that there are certain “tropes” that I enjoy more than others. “Grumpy/Sunshine” is really starting to grow on me. Because of this, I was extremely excited to read this book. I also have to admit that the book description hooked me! I really enjoyed “Cruel Summer” by Maisey Yates, so I really wanted to see what spin this author would put on the “relationship break” type of story.

I really liked that you got to see the full growth journey of the main character. There where definitely times where I wanted to grab the main character (and her grumpy) by the shoulders and shake them. I think that’s part of what made me like both of their characters so much, though.

All in all, I absolutely loved this book. I can’t wait to read other books by Stephanie Perkins!

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Loved this slow burn romance, which is usually not my favorite type of romance. I enjoyed the setting, the familial elements, and the drama (of course). Recommend for those who like romance with a little more.

4.25⭐️ This story was way more than just the slowest of slow burns. It really dives into mental health, growth, and how relationships can change you. There’s also a focus on stepping outside your comfort zone and figuring out who you really are. What I loved most was how it felt real—nothing was overly romanticized or too perfect. The characters were relatable, and while they made some questionable/frustrating choices, it all felt super authentic. I really enjoyed this one. Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Saturday Books for the ARC!

This was not the book I expected, and that’s not a complaint. (Apologies for the double negative.) I thought this would be a lighthearted romcom, and while it had humorous moments and adorable side characters, there were actually some very heavy discussions about mental health, growing old, growing up, even the economy and Covid. For a romance, this had some very real moments and I appreciate that. I like that our protagonist (Ingrid) makes some really bad choices. We can watch her grow. I’m mixed on the romantic lead, but still enjoyed them finding each other. Will recommend.

This was such a slow and semi-boring burn. I thought that it was going to be a home run, and it was good, but not as good as I expected. It was okay, just not my favorite.

Overdue
By Stephanie Perkins

In Overdue, Ingrid Dahl has been in a steady, long-term relationship with her boyfriend, Cory, for eleven years. Their connection has always been strong, but when her younger sister gets engaged to her girlfriend of only two years, Ingrid begins to question her own relationship. With marriage looming in the background, Ingrid and Cory decide to take a one-month break, agreeing to date other people. As Cory moves out for their trial separation, Ingrid finds herself drawn to one person—Macon, her coworker at the local library.

While Overdue is a compelling romance at its core, it’s so much more than that. It's a story about self-discovery and reinvention. Ingrid, after being in a relationship for over a decade, is forced to navigate life on her own terms again. The book explores her journey as she dates around, encounters new people, and ultimately learns what she truly wants—not only in love but in life.

I rated Overdue 4.75 out of 5 stars. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Though the first quarter felt a bit slow as it set up the story, the pacing picked up and kept me engaged. One of the book’s strongest points is its character development. Ingrid’s growth is so relatable and well-crafted, and the supporting cast adds depth to the narrative, balancing romance with personal growth in a way that feels authentic.

Overall, Overdue is a heartwarming and introspective read, with plenty of charm and relatable moments. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a romance that’s also about self-reflection and finding one’s own path.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read Overdue.